SYDNEY NORTH REGIONAL WEEDS SUB-COMMITTEE. MINUTES OF MEETING Wednesday 1 st June 2011

Transcription

1 SYDNEY NORTH REGIONAL WEEDS SUB-COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING Wednesday 1 st June 2011 Attendance Matthew Watts Jason Blayney Susan Westcott Matt Springall Stephen Pym Anthony Newling Diane Campbell Cameron Bennell Rob Gleeson Dominic Edmonds Gith Strid-Nwalaeake Steven Smith Jillian Macintyre James Brisebois Lavinia Schofield Jacqui Vollmer Shelly Slater Luca Apologies Adam Smith Hosted by Hornsby Shire Council Chair: Jillian Macintyre Lane Cove Council Manly Council Sydney Water NPWS - Metro North East region NPWS - Lane Cove National Park Hornsby Shire Council Hornsby Shire Council Hornsby Shire Council Willoughby City Council Ku-ring-gai Council Ku-ring-gai Council City of Ryde Mosman Council Warringah Shire Council Warringah Shire Council Pittwater Council Hunters Hill Council Sydney Weeds Committee GIS/Project Officer Sydney Weeds Committee Acting Exec Officer City of Ryde Meeting Open Jillian Macintyre opened the meeting. Declaration of Pecuniary Interests None declared. Introductions Jillian acknowledged that the Sydney Weeds Committee has been through a huge administrative phase over the last year. Most of the organisational structure and administrative procedures are in place. The focus of the sub-committees is now on implementing the strategic actions and projects, and engaging more with the officers directly involved with work on the ground. Roundtable Discussion & Mapping Activity: SURVEYING AREAS OF CONCERN/ HIGH RISK The aim of this activity was to start capturing knowledge and information about where the weeds officers are keeping an eye on areas of concern, high risk, surveying, concentrating private property inspections and working strategically. The terms inspections and surveying were clarified. An inspection is a legal activity, referring to the official role and function of a weeds officer, under delegation of the Noxious Weeds Act. In this context, and inspection is a formal administrative process. A survey can be done in different ways, on private or public land and by anyone involved in weed identification and operation work, regularly spotting weeds on Sydney North Weeds meeting June 2011 Page 1

2 the ground. Can also include Bushcare volunteers. It is important that all weeds officers are surveying their patch, to ensure we are not missing areas where weed growth could be accelerating and going unnoticed. The Department (DPI) is interested in the collective effort across Sydney, which includes both activities: inspections and surveying, as well as education, on-ground control etc. The term High Risk was also clarified. Examples of high risk pathways : roads, railway corridors, easements, (utilities, drainage etc), waterways, which facilitate the movement of weeds. Eg the F3/M2/M7 corridor is a pathway for Boneseed, travelling south. Examples of high risk sites & hot spots : where a pathway intersects with an area of EEC, Dams, truck & machinery depots, industrial areas, nurseries & garden centres, landscape supplies, development sites, waste disposal sites, horse and boat activities etc Some of the major pathways identified in Sydney North region: Coastline F3 Mona Vale Road The information collected through this mapping activity is the start of an ongoing process to capture existing knowledge. Discussions will continue at the next subcommittee meeting about the information collected to date, identifying gaps and priorities areas and a strategic response where needed, at the regional level. ACTION: Shelly to transfer the information manually collected to a GIS map. ACTION: Everyone who received WAP funding for inspections and survey locations, please send GPS locations to Shelly. Roundtable Discussion: NEW INCURSIONS Invasive Species Plan definition of a new weed incursion : An isolated population of an invasive species detected in an area where it has not previously established. Ie. the weeds that have recently been introduced into an area/landscape, the small populations of a species starting to establish, that are still in a state which we can effectively control (ie. in the diagram, the eradication priority stage ). tabled the (recently revised and simplified) New Incursion form. There had been some confusion about the purpose of this form, with more detailed versions previously circulated. The form is a simple procedure to record information about: Known new incursions in the Sydney North region (within the last few years), which have not been formally recorded by someone on the sub-committee. Any new incursions that are detected from now on. As new incursions as detected, the form needs to be completed immediately and sent to Shelly. Sydney North Weeds meeting June 2011 Page 2

3 The information about new incursions is being collected across all 4 sub-committee regions. It will be used to track where the new populations are and facilitate a rapid response for on-ground control. Shelly needs to consult with a small team of people across the sub-committees to process the information received about new incursions and ensure that this information is communicated and acted on appropriately. This group will function mainly as a sounding board for the GIS/Project officer position, with communication via phone and . For example, if a weed has shown up in the Sydney North region/sydney region for the first time, a New Weed Alert is put out to the subcommittees, Department, RBG, Sydney Weeds website, other relevant people. Sydney North Weed Alert Team:, Matt Springall, Rob Gleeson Roundtable Discussion: Recent new weed incursions in the region Hederanthera Found in Ku-ring-gai LGA and Lane Cove National Park. Growth drops off over Winter. Not as concerned as initially thought. Murdania An isolated population, has been stable for years, along the Lane Cove River. Being monitored. ACTION: to place the finalised new incursion form on website members page. ACTION: Everyone please send completed new incursion forms (for species found within last few years) to Shelly Slater. High Risk Weeds List provided a brief update on where the list is up to, and requested assistance for the next step. Weed Risk Assessments (WRA) have been done by DPI for the highest priority weeds (eg Salvinia). Sydney Weeds Committees representatives did WRAs for several Sydney region weeds last year. The high risk weeds list needs to be finalised by (i) identifying if there are any gaps, weeds that have not been through WRA and (ii) identifying which of the weeds on the list are still in the eradication priority stage (ie have not yet become widespread). asked whether the Sydney Weeds list correlates with the work done in previous years, such as Biodiversity Priorities for Widespread Weeds (work done by DECCW, focusing on assets, and what are the risk to them - primary weeds, secondary weeds, other impacts etc) Many sub-committee members provided input for this project. Mel also has indicative information about what weeds are in national parks, can also be used as a tool. ACTION: to send information and link about Biodiversity Priorities for Widespread Weeds. to seek further information from and Dom Edmonds about their input into CMA and DECCW weeds information, collected in the past. All new Class 4 weeds will require a WRA. To be confirmed at a later date who will do the WRA, once the review of the Noxious Weeds Act is complete and publicised. Sydney North Weeds meeting June 2011 Page 3

4 Weed Action Program (WAP) Funding Year 1 ( ) Year 1 reporting form and procedure has just been ed to all organisations that received funding. The report form to use and procedures are on the website members page. Progress Reports for the financial year are due 15 th July Reminders will be sent leading up to this deadline. This is a strict deadline, to ensure all progress reports can be collated in time for the DPI reporting deadline. Organisations that did not receive WAP funds will also be asked to report on weed management activity, to assist with providing statistics on the total effort across Sydney. DPI wants to know what else is happening in the region, parallel to the WAP project. The need for baseline data was raised, so the progress of on ground can be tracked over time. Discussion points: The level of reporting should match in proportion the amount of funds received. Don t make it too cumbersome for the project partners. Many are already doing their own monitoring and internal reporting. The previous form developed by Acting Executive Officer took too long to complete. clarified not to use this form. The format needs to be simplified to collect the essential information. Could also include descriptive information, broad statements about what the site was like before work started. Telling stories of changes noticed over time is also a valuable way of reporting (could be incorporated into future reports). ACTION: to confirm with the Board about the level of baseline information required for sites that are receiving WAP funds. ACTION: to circulate information and weblinks about site monitoring guide, for assessing plant response to weed control (Bitou Bush manual and proforma). Year 2 ( ) The Year 1 funds were received and distributed late, so all funding recipients need to catch up on expenditure and work programs, which will run over into Year 2. Calls for Year 2 WAP applications scheduled around July The Board agreed to invite existing project partners to nominate for slightly increased amounts in Year 2 and justification for why the extra is needed. Lavinia asked about our small project funded by RTA (working with Roadside Environment Committee, minimising the spread of grasses along linear reserves). The project has recently commenced, and the mapping activity today implements one the first actions of the RTA project identifying high risk pathways (transport routes). It was clarified that the RTA funded project is primarily about collection of information and recommended management protocols for the high risk roads, rail lines etc. The Cowan Transport Corridors project is a good model of a localised approach, which resulted in on-ground work. ACTION: to discuss with the Board whether the WAP Year 3 application ( ) can incorporate some on ground work, based on the recommendations and information that comes out of the RTA/REC project Training needs & skills gaps for officers Training needs identified: Legal 2 & 3. The Department is subsidising the course fee for the last time, course coming up soon. Contact DPI directly. Sydney North Weeds meeting June 2011 Page 4

5 Sydney Weeds website Members page The website now has a Members Page, requiring a login password. The information on this login page is for internal use, to be shared among sub-committee members. It was asked if the Regional Plans be publically available again, as many other council officers, bushland managers etc who are not on the weeds sub-committees also refer to these Plans. There was general agreement about doing this. ACTION: to login instructions and password, and move the Regional Plans to a public section of the site Sydney Weeds stall at ABC Gardening Expo Proposed Sydney Weeds stall at the Expo, which is on from 19 th - 21 st August 2011 at Rosehill Racecourse. Representatives from all of the sub-committees are being asked to do 3-4 hour shifts at the stall over the weekend. The stall meets a major target of the Weed Action Program, for regional community education events. It was suggested to use a combination of: Live weeds displays (using Jillian s license) Rob s resin displays Examples of good native plants as alternatives in the garden Eco Van TBC? DPI Marquee ABC Gardening Expo stall/ interested Sydney North representatives: Matt Springall, Jacqui Vollmer, James Brisebois. Steven Smith (Friday only). Rob Gleeson, Jillian Macintyre and to set up the stall. ACTION: to confirm availability and the weekend roster with all. Follow up from Previous Meeting The previous minutes were confirmed by Rob Gleeson. Seconded by Lavinia Schofield. Matters Arising from the Minutes & Action List (not already discussed) Class 4 Plans and new declarations Last year Sydney North region put up a list a new Class 4 declarations. A series of generic Class 4 plans were developed, for use and adaptation by each council, to suit their needs. These new declarations across various LGAs won t be known until October 2011, after notification is received about the changes to the Noxious Weeds Act. Cameron Bennell noted that in his correspondence with Sue Stevens last year (working for SWC at the time), it was stated that Willoughby Council did not want to list any new Class 4 weeds. As part of the Sydney North submission, some additional weeds were added for Willoughby LGA. will check this with Frances Pike. ACTION: Jillian to resend to Mich Michelmore s Draft workshop notes and final versions of the Class 4 plans, for the website members page. ACTION: to check listing of Athol Pine General Business ANPC workshop coming up about Myrtle Rust. 3 tiers of hygiene protocols. None known to be on NPWS land. Very hard to control, can be spread by park users, walkers etc NPWS and Hornsby Council are looking at where are the assets they don t want to come affected, and implementing specific hygiene measures. Infection linked to Rhodamnia sp Long term effects no known Seems to kill younger trees, regenerating areas. More so than mature trees. Sydney North Weeds meeting June 2011 Page 5

6 Increased Phytophthora at West Head, during to increased rainfall lately. Pest Management Strategy for NPWS Metro North East region is currently being rewritten. Draft will be circulated to sub-committee for comment. Control Class 4 weeds tends to be lower priority, based on asset ranking system. ACTION: to circulate inform about the asset prioritization system for the website members page. Weeds Society seminar 27 th July 2011 Environmental Weeds. Current Practices & Procedures. Cameron will be presenting about flameweeding, at the Weeds Conference in Coffs Harbour. ACTION TO FOLLOW UP: Suggestion made about an end of year field day/canoeing trip, inviting representatives from all 4 weeds sub-committees. Next Meeting date & host Date: Wednesday 21 st September 2011 Host: Lane Cove National Park. Venue TBC: Jenkin Hall Sydney North weeds sub-committee Action list June 2011 meeting Transfer the mapping activity information a GIS map. Distribute when ready. Supply GIS data about recent/current inspection and survey locations. Finalise the New Incursion Form and place on website page Send completed new incursion forms (for species found within last few years) to Shelly. Circulate website login password to all sub-committee representatives. Move Regional Plans back to public domain. Send information and link about Biodiversity Priorities for Widespread Weeds. Seek further information from and Dom Edmonds about their input into CMA and DECCW weeds information, collected in the past. Confirm with the Board about the baseline information requirements for WAP funded on-ground control that are receiving WAP funds. Circulate information and weblinks about site monitoring guide, for assessing plant response to weeds control (Bitou Bush monitoring manual and proforma). Circulate inform about the asset prioritisation system (NPWS Pest Strategy) for the website members page Discuss with the Board about WAP Year 3 application and funding some on-ground work, based on RTA/REC project Put onto website members page: Mich Michelmore s Draft workshop notes Final versions of the generic Class 4 plans Confirm availability and roster timeslots for ABC Gardening Expo stall, August 2011 Check listing of Athol Pine End of year field day/canoeing trip, inviting representatives from all 4 weeds sub-committees. Responsibility Shelly All organisations that received WAP funds for inspections/ surveys Everyone Matt Springall, Jacqui Vollmer, James Brisebois, Steven Smith. Jillian & Rob (set up) / pass onto Frances Pike Sydney North Weeds meeting June 2011 Page 6